Fender mounting bracket assembly for tractor canopies



FENDER MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR TRACTOR CANOPIES Filed April 22, 1964 s. w. JENSEN Sept. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 57'A/VAE) W JE/VSE/Y may lira/HIE);

Sept. 7, 1965 s. w. JENSEN 3,205,003

FENDER MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR TRACTOR CANOPIES Filed April 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5744 45) W JE/MS''lV United States Patent 3 205,003 FENDER MOUNTIblG BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR TRACTOR CANOPIES Stanley W. Jensen, Omaha, Nebr., assignor to The Snow Corporation, Omaha, Nebn, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Apr. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 361,643 8 Claims. (Cl. 296102) This invention relates generally to canopies for tractors, and more particularly to a bracket assembly for mounting such canopies to the fenders of tractors.

Due to the fact that the lateral spacing between the fenders on tractors differs quite widel not only from manufacturer to manufacturer, but from model to model of a given manufacturer, this poses a problem with respect to mounting of a canopy on a particular tractor. For instance, the manufacturer of a canopy desires to standardize on the design that he markets. Consequently, it is most desirable that a single type of canopy be fabricated and that compensation be made for the difference in fender spacing at the time the canopy is mounted or installed on a particular tractor. In this way, the prospective purchaser need not seek a canopy having any particular width, for any practical width canopy can readily be accommodated when employing brackets of the type envisioned by the present invention.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a highly versatile bracket assembly which will allow canopies of different widths or of the same width to be mounted on the fenders of tractors even thoughthe spacing between the fenders may differ quite widely from tractor to tractor.

More specifically, the invention has for an object the provision of a bracket assembly that can be regarded as being of a universal character. The universal nature of my bracket assembly is such as to allow the canopy to be adjusted vertically in order to obtain the desired canopy height. Also, inasmuch as the spacing between tractor .fenders will vary considerably, it is within the purview of the invention to provide a-bracket that can be mounted on the fenders and by virtue of an off-set in the vertical tubular support at each sideof the canopy, an adjustment can be easily made so that a canopy having any given width can be readily mounted. Still further, since some fenders lean or cant in or out, it is within the scope of the invention to permit the clamping portion of the bracket assembly to be adjusted into an angular relation such that the tubular support at each side will be maintained upright or vertical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket assemblage that will not be costly to manufacture, thereby encouraging the widespread use thereof by farmers, construction workers, highway employees and others requin'ng canopies on the tractors they operate.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bracket that can be quickly attached to the fender without difficulty and thereafter properly adjusted in a minimum amount of time.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following descrip- 3,205,003 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 for a tractor having its fenders spaced only a minimum distance apart;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2., but with the bracket assemblies adjusted so as to fit a tractor having a maximum fender spacing;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one bracket assembly in substantially the position it appears in FIGURE 1, such a position being concerned with a fender spacing somewhat greater than that for which the bracket assemblies are adjusted for in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective detail of a bracket unit with the channel member adjusted for a fender that inclines outwardly at the top thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but with the bracket unit adjusted for a fender having a reverse inclination from that for which the adjustment is made in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the major parts comprising the bracket unit.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a tractor has been generally designated by the reference numeral 10, the tractor having a pair of laterally spaced fenders 12, although only one is visible in FIGURE 1.

The canopy has been denoted in its entirety bythe ref erence numeral 14 in FIGURES 1, 2 and-3. The canopy 14 includes a canvas umbrella 16 that is attached to a collapsible supporting frame 18.

A tilt adjustment assembly 20 is utilized for pivoting the canopy 14 forwardly and rearwardly. This tilt adjustment assembly includes a pair of plates 22, 24 that are rotatable relative to each other by reason of a pivot pin 26 extending therethrough. A clamping member 28 functions to retain the plates 22, 24 in any preferred relationship to effect the particular tilted position desired of the canopy 14. The tilt adjustment assembly 20 need not be referred to in greater detail, for it is more fully described and claimed in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 334,231, filed December 30, 1963'(now abandoned), for Canopy for Tractors. The referenced patent application is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and reference may be made thereto if need be. It will be observed, though, that the clamping plate 22 is fixedly attached to the collapsible frame 18, there being one such plate at eachside of the frame. It will also be seen that the clamping plate 24 has a relatively short integral tube 30 extending downwardly therefrom.

At this time, attention is called to what will be termed a support or bracket assembly indicated in its entirety by the reference number 34, there being of course one such assembly at each side of the canopy 14. The assembly, in each instance, comprises a tubular support 36 having an upper straight portion 38, a lower straight portion 40, and an intermediate off-set portion 42. At .the upper end of the support 36 is a split ring 44 having a lever 46 by which the upper end of the tubular support 36 can be clamped to the lower end of the integral tube 30. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of angularly disposed slits in the upper end of the tubular support 36 allow the split ring 44 to press or clamp the upper end of this tube against the tube 30.

The bracket assembly 36 further includes .a bracket unit 48 comprised of a channel-shaped member 50 having a web 52 and parallel side flanges 54. In order to allow the web 52 of each bracket unit 48 to be fixedly secured to its particular fender 12, a pair of mounting holes 56 are provided in the web 52. Describing in greater detail the channel-shaped member 50, it will be discerned that a pair of slots 58 are formed in each side flange 54. As best viewed in FIGURE 7, it will be discerned that the slots 58 incline at substantially a 45 angle with respect to the plane of the web- 52. Hence, the upper slot 58 in each side flange 54 inclines down- Wardly and away from the web 52 and the lower slot inclines upwardly and away from the web 52, the angle being approximately 45 as indicated above. The mounting holes 56 have been referred to and from FIGURE 4 it will be noted that a pair of bolts 60 are utilized in attaching the channel member 59 to the tender 1?; at each side of the tractor 10. Nuts are applied to the ends of the bolts 60 after those bolts are inserted through an propriately spaced holesthat are drilled in the fender and when tightened serve to anchor the channel member 50 in place on the fender 12.

A second channel member 62. is included in each bracket unit 48, this channel member comprising a web 64 and relatively shallow parallel side flanges 66. To the edges of the side flanges 66 are welded transversely extending tubes 68. The purpose of the tubes 68 is to accommodate clamping bolts that are labeled 70 which have applied thereto nuts (not shown) so that the channel member 62 can be retained at selected angles relative the channel member 50. FIGURE shows the channel member 50 adjusted to one extreme angular relationship and FIGURE 6 depicts the channel member 50 in an opposite extreme angular relationship. FIGURES 1-4 illustrate the channel member 50 in an intermediate position. In any event, it will be recognized that irrespective of the inclination or cant imparted to the tenders 12, my invention allows the bracket unit 48 to be adjusted therefor.

From FIGURE 7, it will be observed that four vertical slots 72 are formed in the web 64 of the channel member 62. The slots 72 are instrumental in pivot-ally supporting a pair of clamping plates 74 which are curved or bent at 76 to provide angularly disposed or oriented panel portions 78, 80, here again this construction being best understood from what is pictured in FIGURE 7. The

actual mounting of the plate 74 to the channel member 62 is effected through the agency of a pair of integral cars 82 that are angled outwardly from the free edges of the channel portions 78. Adjacent the free edge of the panel portion 80 of each plate is a square aperture or hole 84. These apertures 84 accommodate a carriage bolt 86 having a nut 88 thereon. Consequently, by tightening the nut 88 of each bracket unit 48 when the ears 82 are inserted into the slots 72, any longitudinal segment of the straight portions can be securely engaged and clamped so as to retain the canopy '14 at the appropriate height for the operator of the tractor 10.

Having presented the foregoing information, the versatility and utility derivable from my invention should be readily appreciated. In installing the bracket unit 48 to each fender 12, the channel member need be bolted only to the tender at some rather arbitrarily selected locat-ion. If the channel member Sit is attached to a por tion that is vertical, such asillustrated in FIGURE 1, the channel member 62 when received between the side flanges 54 would be angularly oriented so that it also would be substantially vertical, the bolts 79 being readily moved downwardly or upwardly within the slots 58 so as to permit this. This results in the clamping plates 74 being oriented in a substantially vertical relationship so that when the tubular support 36 is clamped therebetween, then the tubular support will be generally upright or vertical.

Obviously, should there be any outward or inward inclination of the fender 12, compensation therefor can be easily made through the agency of the bolts 70 and the slots 58. If there is an outward slant imparted to the fenders 12, then the channel member 50 would be oriented in the position shown in FIGURE 5, whereas if there happens to be an inward slant or cant, then the channel member 50 would be angled as pictured in FIG- URE 6. These, quite obviously, are two extreme positions and any inclination between these two extreme positions can be obtained to fulfill the requirements of any installation.

Once the bracket units 48 are mounted, it will be appreciated that the tubular supports 36 can be twisted or rotated about the axes provided by the lower straight portions 40 which are in each instance clamped between the appropriate pair of clamping plates 74. Thus, assuming that the spacing between the fenders 12 of the tractor 10 is somewhat greater than the minimum spacing that would be encountered, then all that the user need do is to partially twist the tubular support 36 at each side so that the off-set portion 42 angles somewhat outwardly; this is the condition that is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. On the other hand, if a minimum spacing of thefenders 12 should be experienced, then the tubular support 36 can be oriented as shown in FIGURE 2, and if a maximum spacing is encountered, then the orientation depicted in FIGURE 3 can be resorted to.

Once the bracket units 48 have been installed on the fenders v12 for a particular canopy 14, there will naturally be no further adjustment needed other than to perhaps move the tubular supports 36 up or down to properly shelter at particular operator. This can readily be achieved by merely loosening the nut 88 somewhat so that the straight portion 49 can be raised or lowered, as the case may be.

Particular notice should be taken as to the simplicity of the parts shown in FIGURE 7. These parts can be very easily fabricated, to a large extent by stamping. Furthermore, the mounting of the unit 48 is easily realized and any needed adjustment for a particular width canopy 14 and a particular spacing of the fenders 12 can be compensated for. Still further, the canopy 14 can be raised and lowered to suit the height of the operator. It will also be appreciated that the canopy 14 can be tilted forwardly or rearwardly in order to properly shade the operator as the tractor 10 moves from place to place, the present invention not interfering with this tilting action in any way.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A fender mounting bracket assembly for supporting a tractor canopy on tractors having laterally spaced fenders of different widths comprising:

(a) a pair of first members each having a generally planar portion adapted to be secured to one fender of a tractor;

(b) a second member for each of said fenders having a generally planar portion adjustable into various tilted angular positions with respect to the plane of the planar portion of the first member with which it is associated;

(c) each of said first members having first and second openings and each of said second members having first and second openings, the first openings in said first members being transversely registrable with the first openings in said second members, respectively, and the second openings in said first members being transversely registrable with the second openings in said second members, respectively;

(d) a bolt member extending through said first openings in each instance and a bolt member extending through said second openings in each instance;

(e) the first openings in one pair of said members being sufficiently larger than the bolt members extending therethrough so as to allow the planar portions of said second members to be moved into said various tilted angular positions;

(f) said bolt members in each instance retaining the planar portions of said second members in any of said tilted angular positions;

(g) a pair of support members each having generally straight end portions oltset from each other;

(h) respective means carried on said second members for clampingly engaging a preferred longitudinal a segment of one straight portion of each support member, and

(i) means twistably attaching the other of said straight portions of said support members about vertical axes to the sides of said canopy,

(j) whereby said longitudinal segments may be twisted about their longitudinal axes to orient said other straight portions in an optimum relationship for the support of both sides of said tractor'canopy when said planar portions are attached to said fenders.

2. A fender mounting "bracketassembly for supporting a' tractor canopy on tractors having laterally spaced fenders of different widths comprising:

(a) a pairof first members each having a'gen'erally planar portion adapted to be secured to one fender of a tractor;

(b) a second member for each of said fenders adjustable into various angular positions about horizontal axes with respect to the plane of the planar portion of the said first member with which it is associated,

(0) one pair of said members having oppositely inclining slots and the other of said pairs of members having a pair of transversely extending openings;

(d) a pair of bolt members extending through said slots and openings in each instance to retain said second members in an angularly adjusted relationship with respect to the plane of said planar portions;

(6) a pair of support members each having generally straight end portions oifset from each other;

(f) respective means carried on said second members for clampingly engaging a preferred longitudinal segment of one straight portion of each support member, and i (g) means twistably attaching the other of said straight portions of said support members about vertical axes to the sides of said canopy,

(h) whereby said longitudinal segments may be twisted about their longitudinal axes to orient said other straight portions in an optimum relationship for the support of both sides of said tractor canopy when said planar portions are attached to said fenders.

3. A fender mounting bracket assembly for supporting a tractor canopy on tractors having laterally spaced fenders of different widths comprising:

(a) a pair of first means incuding a relatively flat web in each instance for attachment to the fenders of a tractor and each web having parallel side flanges.

(b) said side flanges each having an upper and lower slot therein inclined relative to their respective webs;

(c) a second means adapted to be received between the said side flanges of each first means provided with upper and lower transverse openings;

(d) respective bolt means extending through said transverse openings and said slots of each of said first means whereby each of said second means can be adjustably retained at various angles about horizontal axes with respect to said first means in each instance;

(e) a pair of support members each having generally straight end portions offset from each other;

(f) a pair of clamping plates pivotally attached at their adjacent edges to each of said second means for receiving a preferred longitudinal segment of one straight portion of each support member therebetween;

(g) a bolt member extending through portions of each pair of said clamping plates near the edges thereof lying opposite said adjacent edges for causing said clamping plates to pressurally bear against said longitudinal segments and thereby retain the other end portions of said support members inan optimum relationship, and

(h) means twistably attaching the other of said straight portions of said support members about vertical axes to the sides of said canopy for the support of said canopy when saidplanar'portions are attached to said fenders.

4. A fenderm'ounting bracket assembly for tractor canopies comprising:

(a) first means including. a web for'attachment to the fender of' a tractor and having'iparall'el side" flanges,

(b') said side flanges "having an upper and lower slot therein inclined'relative to said web portion;

(c)v second means adapted to be received between said side flanges'providedwith upper and lower transverse openings;

(d) bolt means extending through said transverse openings'and said slots'whereby said second means can be adjust'ably retained'at various angles with respect to said first means, and

(e) clampingmeans carried on said second means for engaging an upright member forming a support for one side of a canopy,

(f) said clamping means including a pair of curved plate members having angled cars at one edge thereof,

(g) said second means having parallel slots for the accommodation of said ears.

5. A fender mounting bracket assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which:

(a) said plate members have apertures therein located adjacent the edges thereof remote from said firstmentioned ears, and

(b) bolt means extending through said apertures for effecting clamping engagement of said upright support member.

6. A fender mounting bracket assembly in accordance with claim 5 in which:

ers having a given lateral spacing therebetween:

(a) a canopy having a width either greater or less than the spacing of said fenders;

(b) a support member for each side of said canopy having its upper end twistably attached about vertical axes to said canopy;

(c) the lower end of each support member being offset along a diflFerent axis from its upper end;

(d) a generally vertical channel-shaped member secured to each fender having parallel side flanges provided with aligned inclined slots adjacent the top and bottom thereof;

(e) a bolt element extending through the upper slots of each channel-shaped member and a bolt element extending through the lower slots of each channelshaped ,member;

(f) a member received between the flanges of each channel-shaped member having upper and lower transverse tubular portions encircling the bolt elements of that particular channel-shaped member;

(g) respective clamping means carried by each of said last-mentioned members for engaging the lower portions of said support members, and

(h) whereby said support members can be rotated in said respective clamping means to vary the spacing of the upper ends of said support members.

8. In combination with a tractor provided with fenders having a given lateral spacing therebetween:

7 having its upper end twistably attached to said canopy; (c) the lower end of each support member being offset along a different axis from its upper end;

((1) a channel-shaped member secured to each fender 5 having parallel side flanges provided with aligned inclined slots adjacent the top and bottom thereof; (e) a bolt element extending ,through the upper slots of each channel-shaped member and a bolt element extending through the lower slots of each channelshaped member; (f) a member received between the flanges of each channel-shaped member having upper and lower transverse tubular portions encircling the bolt elements of that particular channel-shaped member; (g) respective clamping means carried by each of said last-mentioned members for engaging the lower portions of said support member, each clamping means including a pair of curved plates pivot'ally References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Durham 16-158 Socha 248291 X Walford 29678.1 Trebules 248--29l X Kettler 296-102 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

LEO FRIAGLIA, A. HARRY LEVY, Examiners. 

1. A FENDER MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING A TRACTOR CANOPY ON TRACTORS HAVING LATERALLY SPACED FENDERS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF FIRST MEMBERS EACH HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR PORTION ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO ONE FENDER OF A TRACTOR; (B) A SECOND MEMBER FOR EACH OF SAID FENDERS HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR PORTION ADJUSTABLE INTO VARIOUS TILTED ANGULAR POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF THE PLANAR PORTION OF THE FIRST MEMBER WITH WHICH IT IS ASSOCIATED; (C) EACH OF SAID FIRST MEMBERS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS AND EACH OF SAID SECOND MEMBERS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS, THE FIRST OPENINGS IN SAID FIRST MEMBERS BEING TRANSVERSELY REGISTRABLE WITH THE FIRST OPENINGS IN SAID SECOND MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, AND THE SECOND OPENINGS IN SAID FIRST MEMBERS BEING TRANSVERSELY REGISTRABLE WITH THE SECOND OPENINGS IN SAID SECOND MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY; (D) A BOLT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST OPENINGS IN EACH INSTANCE AND A BOLT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND OPENINGS IN EACH INSTANCE; (E) THE FIRST OPENINGS IN ONE PAIR OF SAID MEMBERS BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGER THAN THE BOLT MEMBERS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH SO AS TO ALLOW THE PLANAR PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND MEMBERS TO BE MOVED INTO SAID VARIOUS TILTED ANGULAR POSITIONS; (F) SAID BOLT MEMBERS IN EACH INSTANCE RETAINING THE PLANAR PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND MEMBERS IN ANY OF SAID TILTED ANGULAR POSITIONS; (G) A PAIR OF SUPPORT MEMBERS EACH HAVING GENERALLY STRAIGHT END PORTIONS OFFSET FROM EACH OTHER; (H) RESPECTIVE MEANS CARRIED ON SAID SECOND MEMBERS FOR CLAMPINGLY ENGAGING A PREFERRED LONGITUDINAL SEGMENT OF ONE STRAIGHT PORTION OF EACH SUPPORT MEMBER, AND (I) MEANS TWISTABLY ATTACHING THE OTHER OF SAID STRAIGHT PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS ABOUT VERTICAL AXES TO THE SIDES OF SAID CANOPY, (I) WHEREBY SAID LONGITUDINAL SEGMENTS MAY BE TWISTED ABOUT THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES TO ORIENT SAID OTHER STRAIGHT PORTIONS IN AN OPTIMUM RELATIONSHIP FOR THE SUPPORT OF BOTH SIDES OF SAID TRACTOR CANOPY WHEN SAID PLANAR PORTIONS ARE ATTACHED TO SAID FENDERS. 